Bath
Set in the rolling Somerset countryside on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, Bath (population 80,000+) offers a diverse range of attractions for its 4.4 million visitors each year: restaurants, theatres, cinemas, pubs and nightclubs, along with interesting museums, and a wide range of guided tours. Understand[edit]History[edit]Bath is the oldest of England’s principal tourist destinations and has been welcoming visitors for centuries. The three hot springs within the city were sacred to the Celtic goddess Sulis, whom the Romans later identified with the goddess Minerva. Bath first achieved its status as a sacred spa site with the growth of the Roman settlement Aquae Sulis around the thermal springs. The Roman period saw a vast complex of baths constructed - the remains of these were re-discovered in the 18th century and helped fuel Bath's modern revival as a luxury resort. Bath was a prosperous city in the Medieval period, the site of an Abbey and Cathedral (under the Bishop of Bath and Wells). The Reformation under Henry VIII saw some uncertainty emerge in Bath's future, although the reign of Elizabeth I saw the first revival of the town as a spa resort. It was during the Georgian period, however, that Bath came once again into its own. Exceedingly fashionable, Bath was laid out in stately avenues, streets and crescents, encrusted with Neo-Classical public buildings.
Window Tax[edit]During the 18th and 19th century there was a tax put on windows. Having windows in a building was seen as a luxury and so each property was charged for having them. When walking around bath you will notice that some of the buildings haven't got very many windows. Some of them are sealed over and a few of them have actually painted them of instead! Plagues[edit]In 1348 nearly half the population of Bath died as a result of the plague and further plagues hit the city in 1604, 1625, 1636 and 1643. Read[edit]Let's start with the classics and work forward to the good stuff: The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (The Pickwick Papers) by Dickens includes a very funny scene in which the group goes to Bath that is indicative of the joys found by visiting Bath and the inspiration for many visits to Bath. Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey is traditional reading before a visit to Bath. Austen lived in the city between 1801 and 1805, and her novel is a satire of the social life of the city at the time. Many of the sites she mentioned are still able to be visited in the city today. She also set parts of "Persuasion" in the city. Roald Dahl's wrote a chilling short story "The Landlady" about a stranger staying in Bath with a strange lady who is not all she seems. Two authors have each written a series of contemporary detective novels set in the city: Christopher Lee's started with "The Killing of Sally Keemer" and Peter Lovesey's first was "The Last Detective". Paul Emanuelli's "Avon Street - A Tale of Murder in Victorian Bath" is set in a period of Bath's history which tends to be overlooked and is all the more fascinating for it. You can buy any of the above in any of Bath's great bookshops: Waterstone's at the top of Milsom Street, or for independents - Mr B's Emporium (14-15 John Street, tucked away behind Jolly's - ask a local) or Toppings on the Paragon. Get in[edit]By plane[edit]Regional airports[edit]These smaller airports provide a much more sedate experience than the London ones. Check in queues are shorter, there are fewer people about, and it's much clearer where you have to go and what you have to do. Less stress and fewer delays than the London ones. Bristol International Airport [6] is situated 20 miles from Bath and boasts scheduled flights from many major European cities, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paris and Prague (but not London). By public transport catch the Flyer bus service from the airport to Bristol Temple Meads station, then the train from there to Bath; expect the journey to take about one hour, and longer between 4PM and 6PM when Bristol's roads are congested. Alternatively pay for a taxi (about £40) and get to Bath in about 40 minutes. There is now an Airport Bus service direct between Bristol Airport and Bath Centre, which runs half-hourly for most of the day at £20 return. Southampton Airport [7] is under 2 hours from Bath by train,and connections are good. Cardiff Airport [8], Exeter Airport [9] and Bournemouth Airport [10] are also served by low-cost airlines and are within a couple of hours' driving distance of the city. London airports[edit]The alternative is to use one of the London airports and travel on to Bath by train, car or bus. The most convenient are:
By train[edit]Wikitravel has a guide to Rail travel in the United Kingdom. Bath Spa is a Victorian station on the Great Western Railway designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The station is located in the city centre. It has regular inter-city and regional train services from Bristol, London, Reading, Cardiff, Salisbury, Southampton, Weymouth and Swindon. From London, you should travel from London Paddington station, trains run approx every 30 minutes, journey time about 1 hour 30 minutes. Train times (from any location) can be found on the National Rail Planner [15] or by calling 0845-748-4950 from anywhere in the UK. There is a taxi rank outside the station, and the bus station is adjacent. The station is staffed from 06:00-20:30 however the ticket office will only sell advance tickets between 08:00 and 18:00 (ignore the times on the national rail website they are wrong) There are no luggage lockers in the station; Bath Backpacker's Hostel in Pierrepont Street, which is just a few hundred feet from the station, will look after left luggage for the day for £3.00. Oldfield Park is a stop in a residential suburb a mile or so from Bath Spa in the Bristol direction. Don't leap off the train here with all your luggage thinking you're in the middle of town! Trains here are less frequent and tend to be very local services stopping everywhere from Gloucester to Weymouth. No London Paddington services stop here. By car[edit]Get off the M4 at Junction 18, follow signs for about 10 miles. Use the Park-and-Ride facilities! It is very easy to get lost in Bath, as a lot of it is one-way and there's a traffic system that prevents you driving from one side of the city to the other. You have to go out on an unofficial ring road and re-enter the city. Furthermore, the high population density, the lack of a city bypass and the low capacity of the old narrow streets means that congestion is often horrendous. At peak times, it can be quicker to walk from the edge of Bath to town, rather than driving and finding somewhere to park. The short answer - don't drive in Bath. Parking in central Bath is better than it used to be as there's a big new underground multi story under the Southgate Shopping Centre. Most of the smaller long stay car parks will be full by 08:30 during the working week so you have to get in early. Major central multi-storey car parks are based underneath the Southgate Shopping Centre, Walcot Street, Manvers Street (near the train stations) and Charlotte Street (off Queens Square). Average 2010 rates are around £3 an hour - or the more prohibitive pay and display in central bath at £1.30p per 30 minutes in the most convenient street locations. Many parking bays are "residents parking only" so check before leaving your car. Traffic wardens are very efficient so don't even think of parking on a yellow line or going over your time limit. On Sundays and 19:00-08:00 other days most parking is free, however check machines for exact details. The best way to drive into town is to use the park and ride facilities when travelling into Bath for the day. You can park for free and then take a bus from £2.50 per adult return (round-trip, discounts exist) right into the city. The only downside to this is that the last bus leaves at 8:30PM, so you can't use this service if you're staying in Bath late. By bus[edit]Bath's bus station is close to the railway station and buses to most destinations outside the city leave and arrive at this location. Get around[edit]Most locations in Bath are easily walkable from the city centre and stations. Bath's roads can be quite congested and driving is not particularly to be recommended for local journeys, but it is probably the best way of seeing the surrounding region. By taxi[edit]If you are staying on the outside of town, this is by far the easiest way of getting to and from the centre. If there are two or more of you, it is cheaper than taking a bus. Locals have their own taxi preferences but if you are visiting, your best bet is to search for V Cars or Abbey Taxis. There are taxi ranks outside the train station and the Abbey. Somehow, there never seem to be enough for late train arrivals or late at night so plan ahead and book by phone to avoid long queues. Taxi firms are well advertised locally. The drivers know the city well and will entertain you with (often cranky) stories. Ask them about the seagulls. By foot[edit]Some of Bath's shopping streets feel like pedestrian-only areas but aren't. Have a quick look round before you follow everyone else out into the road and if you are driving, expect pedestrians to walk out in front of you. Bath is characterised by the steep slopes, which surround it, so while walking is the best way of getting around the middle of the city, it is often best to look ahead to your destination. The Circus is up a reasonably small slope, but Prior Park is up the challenging Lyncombe Hill. By bike[edit]Cycling in Bath is very varied, with most routes in the middle of the city being very flat and easy, but journeys up the valley sides becoming extremely challenging for novices! There are several shops offering bike hire. The 'Boris Bike' style bike vending service is currently available, for example outside Green Park Station. Bath is home to the UK's first official cycle path, the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, now part of Sustrans route 4. The path's 15 mi (24 km) are very flat and should be easily manageable. There are also plenty of points of interest, including the platforms of the original stations (including a cafe at Warmley, about halfway) and steam trains running alongside the path on the Avon Valley Railway, between Avon Riverside and Oldland common, particularly at weekends. Another favourite is the 0.3 mi (0.5 km) tunnel, running underneath Staple Hill. The path is entirely off-road except for short sections at each end with little traffic On the eastern side of Bath, the path goes along the Kennet and Avon Canal towards Bradford on Avon. Once you climb beside the initial set of locks and get out of the city the path is very flat, passing through the pleasant Wiltshire countryside. In 2014, the Two Tunnels project was opened. Following the former trackbed of the Somerset and Dorset Railway, you can explore the countryside SouthWest of Bath towards Wellow and Radstock (that connects to Frome) The highlight are the Two Tunnels. The first is 408 mlong, the second is a staggering 1672 m ling. You are accompanied by music as you cycle. It is often much faster to cycle in Bath than to drive or to take a bus. However, beware of busy roads if you stray from the cycle paths and make sure bikes are securely locked. By public bus[edit]Typically for British public transport, public buses are expensive and at best adequate. If you are on the outskirts of town and there are two or more of you, just get a taxi. It will be cheaper and certainly more pleasant than a bus journey. For people driving in from nearby 'Park and Ride' bus system operates from a ring of car parks around the outskirts of the city (Newbridge, Lansdown, Claverton Down and Odd Down). Lansdown Park and Drive prices £2.50 Saturday and Sunday - £3.20 during the week. It can take you to Milsom Street, the city's main shopping street, or to a number of the cities schools. Doing that rather than driving to the centre of town and parking will save you some money. Note that Bath's buses are often quite expensive, compared with other cities. If you are going to be taking more than one return journey or one single journey in a day, it is recommended to ask the driver for a day pass instead, which gives unlimited travel on that bus company's buses in Bath. There are several bus companies operating, such as WessexConnect, but the most useful for tourists is First. By tourist bus[edit]Tour buses complete an enjoyable circuit of main attractions, which can be picked up en route or at the main bay at 'Bog Island' (for the Skyline tour) or next to the fountain near Bath Abbey (for the city centre tour). When you see something you like just hop off at the next stop, have a look round, and hop back on the next one that comes along. Attractions en route include the historic Royal Crescent, The Circus and, with some tour bus companies, a route up the winding Ralph Allen Drive past the impressive Prior Park Gardens. Tickets cost £11.50 for both the 40 min Skyline tour and the 45 min City Centre, hop-on, hop-off service. All those locations are walkable, and due to a maze with one way streets in Bath center it seems like you can beat the tourist bus by walking almost all the time. See[edit][add listing]To the visitor Bath is a pretty complete Georgian city with a lot of architecture intact. A number of buildings were lost in World War 2, but much of the city remained intact and most of what was bombed was rebuilt, initially with 60s architecture which is now being replaced by some excellent replica Georgian buildings and some more modern construction. While large areas of ugly 21st century construction have been permitted by the Council, these are generally on the outskirts of the city and built on previously derelict land. The touristic area is compact, and everything listed in See section can be seen in two hours if you do not get into Roman Baths. Bath people are very friendly and live by the credo "If in doubt, ask a local". They will always be pleased to direct you where you want to go and it is customary to offer a small tip, fifty pence or a pound, in return for some courteous directions. However, English protocol insists they must pretend to refuse the tip and you must insist to give it. A charming custom but by no means obligatory. Landmarks[edit]
Come out of the Roman Baths and you will see:
Come out of the main Abbey door, turn right and follow the pavement round the corner past the statue of "The Lady With The Pitcher". Pass some bookshops and a shop selling Blue Glass and cross the road to the entrance to the Parade Gardens on your left. Then follow the road to the left to see:
Cross Pulteney Bridge to see:
Go back in the direction of the Parade Gardens to catch a Hop On Hop Off Tourist bus to take you to:
Parks[edit]Bath's parks are ideal for a summer picnic although local by-laws prevent the drinking of alcohol outdoors. Topless bathing used to be frowned upon but is becoming the norm as the regenerating city becomes more cosmopolitan. The Council maintains all parks to a high standard.
Museums and galleries[edit]
Do[edit][add listing]Bath is the only place in Britain where you can bathe in hot natural waters. You can't leap into the Roman Baths but you can pamper yourself at the Thermae Bath Spa across the road. This is a modern spa in the heart of Bath one block over from the original Roman Baths. It is a four storey day spa, that uses the "healing waters" to sooth and relax. The waters are filtered but remain warm in the indoor and outdoor roof top pool - which has amazing views. A great way to spend an afternoon or evening relaxing in the warm waters looking out over the city architecture. They offer everything from massages to a "kraken stove" steam bath but just spending a couple of hours soaking in the indoor pool, steam baths and roof deck outdoor pool is great fun. This is a very popular attraction so make sure you book in advance. Adult prices: £ 26 for 2 hours, £ 36 for 4 hours. 15 minutes are added for free to your time to allow changing in the changing rooms. Tours[edit]There are numerous guided tours, walking tours, and audio tours of the city available. Options range for historical tours to ghost tours to pub crawls; you will find leaflets for these in most hotels, bars, and restaurants. The 'Mayor of Bath Honorary Guide tour' is fantastic for a free pleasant two hour walk around the famous Georgian city of Bath with the Mayor of Bath's Corps of Honorary Guides. This has been going since the 1930's, and visits many famous historic and architectural places within the city, delivered by enthusiastic Bathonians. Every day of the week, see [36] for more information. Bath also makes a great base for day trips to the surrounding countryside. There are also tours that go to Stonehenge and places like Avebury, the village of Lacock, Castle Combe, and other surrounding villages throughout the Cotswolds. Just go to Tourist Information on bog island, a pedestrianised island that once hosted public conveniences and so go officially named that way, to book a tour. Walking[edit]Bath is a small city surrounded by lovely countryside and is at the end of the 102 mile Cotswald Way footpath. Once you are in the city the National Trust's Bath Skyline Walk [37] provides excellent views of Bath - or you can simply wander along the canal for 40 minutes to The George Inn at Bathampton for good food in a delightful setting. Cycling[edit]There's something for almost every type of cyclist in Bath. The steep hills and rolling countryside are excellent fodder for the serious cyclist. Ask at one of the city's specialist bike shops for recommendations, most staff members are keen cyclists themselves. The Bristol and Bath Railway Path journeys through several villages to Bristol, 13 miles (about 1.5 hour's leisurely cycle) away. Outside the cities the route is off-road, although within them it sometimes goes onto backstreets. You can go from Bath Spa railway station to Temple Meads in Bristol without seeing more than a few cars. The Two Tunnels Greenway takes advantage of two long tunnels, including the longest cycling tunnel in Britain - Combe Down Tunnel - at just over a mile. The tunnels are lit brightly enough that you don't need lights, although they may be a reassurance. They are fitted with CCTV and even have mobile phone coverage. The tunnels can get quite busy, especially during summer and bank holiday weekends, and you need to be aware of both cyclists overtaking and pedestrians and slower cyclists to overtake. Keep left! An excellent round trip is to start at Bath Spa railway station, head west alongside the river until you see signs for the Two Tunnels at Fielding's road (over the green footbridge). Cross the Lower Bristol Road and head up through the tunnels to Midford, then take route 24 down some reasonably quiet lanes via Monkton Combe to the Kennet and Avon Canal path. You'll quickly pass the impressive Dundas Aqueduct and charming canal boats and head on into Bath. The whole journey is 12 miles or so, reasonably flat, almost all off-road and taken at a leisurely pace will take a couple of hours - longer if you stop off at the numerous excellent pubs on the way! Theatre[edit]Theatre Royal - The historic Theatre Royal [38] in the Sawclose, near the city centre, opened in 1805. It offers a rich programme of drama and other entertainment throughout the year, ranging from traditional pantomime at Christmas to Ayckbourn, folk singers, rock, pop, comedians, opera and Shakespeare. Programmes often feature test runs of plays before they hit the West End (of London). In addition to the main house, the Theatre Royal has two smaller performance spaces - the Ustinov Studio and a theatre for children, the Egg - and three restaurants, The Vaults, the 1805 Rooms and the Egg Café. While the main theatre may appear to be fully booked or perhaps outside your budget that may not actually be the case. If you phone them, you will find they have a range of last minute seats and standing options at greatly reduced prices. Cinema[edit]The Odeon - [39] for the biggest and newest films. The Little Theatre - [40] shows arthouse and foreign films alongside the newest releases in an intimate environment. Bath Film festival - [41] runs from late October to mid November. Concerts[edit]Not many of these I'm afraid. Bath hasn't really got a suitable venue. Bands sometimes play at the Pavilion, or the Rugby Ground but it's a poor show from the city that once held The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music [42]. Some major classical events are held in Victoria Park but they're far from frequent. Live Music[edit]Many pubs put on live music - for example Jazz music every Thursday and other live music occasionally at St James' Wine Vaults in the north of town near the Royal Crescent. The Bell Inn on Walcot Street has live music on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Sunday lunchtime, always free and busy. Buskers abound in the city centre and some are truly talented. Rugby[edit]Bath Rugby Club - [43] Professional Rugby Union club playing in the top league of English Rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Bath also participate annually in a secondary competition, the Anglo-Welsh Cup, and regularly compete in the Heineken Cup against other top clubs from across Europe. Atmospheric city-centre ground on the banks of the River Avon right by Pultney Bridge. Games roughly every other weekend from October-May. Ticket prices for games run between £15-35 depending on seating/standing location. If you're visiting on a weekend, watching a match is very much recommended. Golf[edit]Tracey Park Golf Club - Appealing 27 hole parkland course between Bath and Wick (Bristol). The Crown course is superior to the Cromwell course, which has some newish holes. Nice clubhouse. Lansdown Golf Club - Narrow fairways are a feature of this hilltop course next to Bath racecourse: can get windy. Entry Hill - Municipal, nine-hole learners course. Not bad now that the trees have grown up. Superb views over Bath. Bath Golf Club - Excellent, free draining hilltop course. Not overly long but a good challenge for the mid-handicapper. Always in great condition. Located at Sham Castle, near Bath University. Cricket clubs[edit]Visitors to Bath wanting to enjoy a summer afternoon watching cricket have some lovely grounds that welcome spectators for Saturday and Sunday fixtures: Bath Cricket Club - Nestled in the 'bowl' beside the River Avon, the Bath Cricket Club has an imperious setting. The church on South Parade offers a picture perfect background. Located on North Parade, five minutes walk from the train station. Bath Cricket Club are one of the stronger regional league sides. Lansdown Cricket Club - Former early 1970s home of Viv Richards, Lansdown Cricket Club is an equally attractive ground at the upper end of Bath. Located at Combe Park, next to the Royal United Hospital (near Weston village). Bus number 14 runs to Weston from Bath town centre). Football (Soccer)[edit]Football generally plays 2nd fiddle to Rugby Union in Bath, although there is one major non-league club in the city: Bath City Football Club [44] - City play in the fine surroundings of Twerton Park, a traditional 'English Style' football ground and well worth a visit. They play in the Conference South, the 6th tier of English football. Average gates are around 500-600. Other clubs of note in the city are Odd Down AFC, who play in the south of the city next to the Odd Down Park & Ride, and Larkhall Athletic who play in the north-east of the city. Team Bath were a former club based at the University of Bath and at Twerton Park, but were wound up in the late 2000s. Learn[edit]Bath is home to the University of Bath, a very well respected institution that focuses on the sciences, engineering and social sciences. Bath University has world-class sports facilities used by British olympic athletes. It is located at the top of Bathwick hill, about one mile east of the city centre. Bath also has a second university - Bath Spa University. The main campus is in a rural setting at Newton Park to the west of the city. Bath Spa specialises in the arts, education and humanities. As with most tourism-heavy cities in the United Kingdom, Bath has a selection of Language Schools, and colleges for international students. Some of these institutions include International House [45], Words4Work [46] and Bath Academy [47]. Work[edit]Bathonians are generally employed in lower paid tourist, retail and dining industries which makes living in an expensive tourist destination a challenge for most residents. The university and hospital provide other sources for jobs. Future Publishing, a large magazine and media company, has offices in Bath. Buy[edit][add listing]Bath does not have a unique product to take home with you. It is a British town with shops, just like any other. That said: The 2010 Southgate Shopping Centre is constructed in an obviously mock Georgian (think Disney) style and features a selection of mid-to-upper range clothing chains plus some pretty good places to eat. Just don't think it's old or Georgian. Actually, you won't!. It is almost the first complex you will see upon leaving the railway station but offers little for the tourist as it provides all the retailers available in every other high street in Britain. It's very sad as this was a historic area up until the 1960s when it was completely demolished due to flooding problems. Better boutique shopping can be found in the upper part of the city, notable for its art and antique showrooms although these are sadly disappearing. Head up Milsom Street to George Street and beyond. Bath claims to have one of the highest percentages of independent shops in any British high-street but shopping is sadly no longer a unique experience in this city. You will enjoy wandering around but you're unlikely to buy much. In particular there are no "must have" souvenirs to buy in Bath. Walcot street near the top of town has been designated the "artisan quarter" by the Council and has a number of independent stores but frankly isn't going to be on your list of priorities if you're at all pushed for time. Sadly in Bath the less established shops have to close within months of opening due to combining factors of high rent prices and just lack of demand of product. Vintage clothing stores:
Eat[edit][add listing]In two categories Bath reigns supreme in the UK: coffee and cheese. Coffeemaker Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood has twice been named UK Barista of the year and is currently ranked 4th in the world. His coffees are available in Colonna & Smalls (with cafe snacks), and Colonna & Hunter's (along with craft beers and avantgarde food in a hipster environment). The Bath Soft Cheese company based in Kelston produces four award-winning organic cheeses, and its "Bath Blue" was judged supreme world champion by over 250 cheese judges from 26 nations in the 2015 Good Food Show Awards. Bath Soft Cheese products are available in the Bath farmers' market, several cheese shops and direct from the dairy's cafe in Kelston just ouside Bath. There are some good restaurants, and many pubs do great food, but they're not all clustered together - so you'll work up an appetite wandering round looking for your supper. For the less discerning visitor the bottom end of the town by the new shopping centre and train station has the usual "restaurant" chains but if you're after an authentic dining experience with a bit more style it's far better to consult the web and decide in advance where you want to go. Lunch[edit]
Dinner[edit]
Indian restaurants[edit]Bath is well served for this cuisine. Generally all of them are good and a few are exceptional:
Thai Restaurants[edit]
Great Thai food in a quirky restaurant, probably the best Thai fare in the city Fish Restaurants[edit]
Snacks & treats[edit]
Fast food[edit]Head to Kingsmead Square for burgers, kebabs etc. The following are a cut above the post-pub takeaways and are highly recommended:
Local specialities[edit]
Drink[edit][add listing]Bath has a huge array of pubs and bars to choose from, ranging from the very traditional pubs serving real ale to the typical trendy bars: Most notable pubs[edit]
Other notable pubs[edit]
Country pubs[edit]There are many great pubs in the countryside around Bath. The following have been selected based on a real sense of history and/or a great place to sit outside in the summer months:
Nightclubs[edit]Considering the size of this small city, there are a reasonable number of nightclubs to be found, in no small part helped by the city's substantial student population. Most club nights cater to mainstream tastes, while serious clubbers tend to travel further afield to the larger cities of Bristol and London. Posters and fliers advertising more specialist nights can be found in locations such as the walls inside the town's independent fast food outlets. A unique aspect (for better or for worse) of Bath's nightclubs is that many of them are located in the cellars of old Georgian buildings and can weave through the ground like mazes. Note that they seem to open and close out of the blue.
Water[edit]You can drink the famous hot Bath mineral water in the Pump Rooms in the Abbey Churchyard. It costs about 50p and is served from a fountain in the restaurant area. The experience is unforgettable: it has a unique taste from the minerals that the Romans believed held health benefits for the drinker. It is certainly an unmissable experience! Sleep[edit][add listing]Accommodation in and around Bath ranges from budget hostels and smart, comfortable self-catering homes, through elegant bed and breakfast and guest houses, hospitable farms and inns, to top-of-the-range hotels. Budget[edit]
Mid-range[edit]
Splurge[edit]
Stay safe[edit]Overall Bath is a very safe city to visit; the large number of tourists and university students generates a friendly and vigorous feel to the city. Bath city centre is lively and bustling until late on Friday and Saturday evenings, although things get rougher around kicking out time late at night. Women would be well advised to avoid wandering around alone at night. The common problem for tourists is the occasional groups of homeless beggars around the parks and abbey - you may see them drinking lager and shouting abuse, which can surprise many first-time visitors. However, they're not pushy when asking for money, and argue amongst themselves rather than getting passers-by involved. Accept it as a byproduct of a city that attracts tourism (and therefore money), and it's no problem. The river, especially between Pultney Bridge and the weir looks good for a spot of swimming when you're young and fit - however a calm surface conceals strong currents and the flood defences mean it's hard to rescue those who get into difficulty. The river is dangerous and has seen numerous deaths, despite increased safety measures. Be advised to stay well away after a drink or two. However, beyond the flood defences in Bath the river is safer. Warleigh weir is a recommended 'wild swimming' spot in summer. Popular with locals and students it is about 3 miles along the canal towards Bradford-on-Avon. If you're a keen cyclist, there's a wonderful Bath-to-Bristol cycle path at your disposal. However, please be aware that there have been robberies and attacks on this stretch of cycle path in 2008. Police have made arrests, but it's something you should consider if planning to make the journey. In general Bath is a very safe place to visit and you should not feel threatened in any way. When in the city watch your bags and don't leave them untended or allow a stranger to "watch" them for you. At night keep to the main roads and well lit areas and try to avoid parks and woods when it is dark for obvious reasons. Contact[edit]Telephone[edit]Bath's landline area code is 1225. Dial 01225 from within the UK or +44 1225 from outside the UK. Internet[edit]Bath Library (in the Podium Shopping Centre) offers Internet access at £3.60 an hour for non members. There are a couple of small Internet cafés across the road from the train station. Many cafés and pubs offer free wireless internet access for your laptop, such as Wetherspoons or Bell Inn on Walcot Street where you can plug your laptop in free of charge. Many pubs also offer paid wireless internet, including the Saracen's Head and St. Christopher's Inn. Also try the Adventure Cafe on George Street. Cope[edit]Local press[edit]There are various online sources which publicise local events, but probably the best thing is to pick up The Bath Chronicle [86] (published weekly on Thursdays), or a copy of Venue Magazine [87] (analogous to London's 'Time Out') from a newsagent. Venue is weekly (except around Christmas/New Year), costs £1.50, and new editions are usually available on Wednesdays. Get out[edit]
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